It is funny how you cannot stop thinking about business when you are in business for yourself. This journey has been one of thinking of the best ways to promote products and or sponsor another person to be successful. When you look at the beginning stages of a business, getting the business is the frustrating part.
I have sold 1 bottle, connect with a couple of hundred people, have 1 person sponsored, working on a couple more, planning a trade show and all without any income from the project.
If I quit now, then all is lost and I will have to start over again with another project. Quitting is obviously not the answer and perseverance is the way to go. But what are the opportunity costs? I guess your time becomes voluntary until the business starts to pay off. It is no different from spending thousands of dollars on a business that requires a store front, inventory purchases and you still have to market and get customers.
I see a parallel between this home based endeavor and one that is a store front. The difference being that the upfront costs are minimal in what I am trying to build. I have to keep focused on the product sales at every opportunity so that a customer based can be built. I guess it gets a bit frustrating at times and the help from the up line, although very good, is not a sounding board for all the business skills needed.
Perhaps there is room for letting people know what goes on each and every day of being in business for yourself. There is no letting go, no I can do that tomorrow – there is only today and so I sent my 10 emails out and researched my database to find the next 70 for the week. Interested process – I am seeing names of people that I had lost contact with and now is my chance to rekindle the friendship.
Ok – it is the weekend today and I still get pumped about the possibilities. I will work on my weekly plan and then execute it during the week (evenings and lunch time only for me).
Now it is getting more serious. I spent part of the evening planning how my website will start to drive traffic to the purchase of product. I have a general outline that I put together while eating dinner. It is clear that I have three principles in mind. First is my success mind, second the belief that this is the way for me to go and the third is feeling the success at every turn. According to Jim Britt these principles are the difference between really making it and letting it go. In my mind success is the only word available. Success will only come from continuing to be in business and have the business mindset.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Day 20
Wow on to Day 20 already, I feel like I am not getting as far as fast as I would like. But I guess that happens in any business. I got up early again to read my emails and send my 10 out. I always seem to get 3 to 4 responses for every 10 I send out. Today I actually got an order from one of the people that expressed high interest. I am brining a bottle of the caplets to my Rotary meeting today and will collect the money then. Another person that had previously responded indicated they will buy from the website. I am going to go and check on that one for sure. Nothing yet but the day is young!
My friend I signed up has now put his own webpage into action. He has the link now on his home page for his REI business. Let’s see what that attracts – hopefully he will be able to find several people for his down line. That would be perfect!
I need to now pump up the promo component so I can find two more great people to sponsor. I know that this is a lot of effort to get it going, and I also know that once it catches fire there is no turning back. Once customer at a time and one sponsored individual at a time. Best to focus on customers and get them on the product – that is where referrals will start to happen. Numbers, numbers, numbers got to hit those numbers.
I delivered my first bottle of product at the Rotary meeting today and collected the money! A first from a lot of emails. This is only the beginning of my journey and I had another query about the product from a person that was not on the radar screen yet. PLUS a potential distributor that is interested but has been overly busy so far. Yahoo, more to follow-up and perhaps more in my client and distributor list.
A small victory is a plus as we all have to start somewhere. I will keep building to have more in the interested column. But at least I have a good start. If I could get the same results in each month for sponsored folks and customers, it will be a build that is slow and deliberate. Can you imagine what I could do when it builds to the point where my regular job income is replaced? Yes – still in the planning stages but almost there!
I am having my daughter design a flyer and three fold brochure for me today. I want to post the flyers at my hairdressers to entice people to buy product. The brochure will be for people to read and buy product. Product first, business opportunity second, get people to love the products and using the regularly.
I am also excited about bringing my daughter into the business with me – she will be a big asset. I need to build the income to a level where I can pay her a decent amount of money. I have always wanted to have a business where my girls (2) were working with me. This opportunity is definitely one where this can happen.
You may ask where my husband is in all of this. He likes the idea of me being in business as long as he does not need to be involved. He is not keen on marketing, sales or sponsoring and would rather stay in his comfort zone. Not a good attitude for building a business so I prefer to work with my daughters to make this experience be the best possible. In other words, negativism and doubt is left behind. It will remain this way until he can let go of his stoppages.
My friend I signed up has now put his own webpage into action. He has the link now on his home page for his REI business. Let’s see what that attracts – hopefully he will be able to find several people for his down line. That would be perfect!
I need to now pump up the promo component so I can find two more great people to sponsor. I know that this is a lot of effort to get it going, and I also know that once it catches fire there is no turning back. Once customer at a time and one sponsored individual at a time. Best to focus on customers and get them on the product – that is where referrals will start to happen. Numbers, numbers, numbers got to hit those numbers.
I delivered my first bottle of product at the Rotary meeting today and collected the money! A first from a lot of emails. This is only the beginning of my journey and I had another query about the product from a person that was not on the radar screen yet. PLUS a potential distributor that is interested but has been overly busy so far. Yahoo, more to follow-up and perhaps more in my client and distributor list.
A small victory is a plus as we all have to start somewhere. I will keep building to have more in the interested column. But at least I have a good start. If I could get the same results in each month for sponsored folks and customers, it will be a build that is slow and deliberate. Can you imagine what I could do when it builds to the point where my regular job income is replaced? Yes – still in the planning stages but almost there!
I am having my daughter design a flyer and three fold brochure for me today. I want to post the flyers at my hairdressers to entice people to buy product. The brochure will be for people to read and buy product. Product first, business opportunity second, get people to love the products and using the regularly.
I am also excited about bringing my daughter into the business with me – she will be a big asset. I need to build the income to a level where I can pay her a decent amount of money. I have always wanted to have a business where my girls (2) were working with me. This opportunity is definitely one where this can happen.
You may ask where my husband is in all of this. He likes the idea of me being in business as long as he does not need to be involved. He is not keen on marketing, sales or sponsoring and would rather stay in his comfort zone. Not a good attitude for building a business so I prefer to work with my daughters to make this experience be the best possible. In other words, negativism and doubt is left behind. It will remain this way until he can let go of his stoppages.
Day 19
This morning I answered the price question and sent off the email to my prospect (now put in the interested spreadsheet). I will follow up in a day or so with a phone call to see where this goes.
I got up early to send my next batch of emails and then headed out for work. The day went by quickly as my job is incredible and the people I meet are so brilliant.
I dropped one of my new business cards for this company off at one of the administrators desk. She wants to know about the product – she will be looking at the web site when she gets home tonight. I am very determined that my job and my business never get mixed in together. It is important to separate the two to be effective in both arenas.
Back home now and I am looking through the responses from this morning’s emails. Another great surprise – another person wants to know the pricing of the product and yet another wants to know where to buy it. I have sent responses to both people and will follow up with both. I have 2 more potential customers.
Even though I do not have a lot of traction yet, I am very confident that I am on the right track for building my business. It takes time and effort in order to start turning a profit. I would think that after 6 months I will have a good customer base and at least 3 distributors that are very active. I already have 1 in my first line and 1 potential in my second line with possibly 4 customers. I am also booked to do a trade show with my hair dresser and should get more customers there. This business is build around repeat customers and also to satisfied ones.
I got up early to send my next batch of emails and then headed out for work. The day went by quickly as my job is incredible and the people I meet are so brilliant.
I dropped one of my new business cards for this company off at one of the administrators desk. She wants to know about the product – she will be looking at the web site when she gets home tonight. I am very determined that my job and my business never get mixed in together. It is important to separate the two to be effective in both arenas.
Back home now and I am looking through the responses from this morning’s emails. Another great surprise – another person wants to know the pricing of the product and yet another wants to know where to buy it. I have sent responses to both people and will follow up with both. I have 2 more potential customers.
Even though I do not have a lot of traction yet, I am very confident that I am on the right track for building my business. It takes time and effort in order to start turning a profit. I would think that after 6 months I will have a good customer base and at least 3 distributors that are very active. I already have 1 in my first line and 1 potential in my second line with possibly 4 customers. I am also booked to do a trade show with my hair dresser and should get more customers there. This business is build around repeat customers and also to satisfied ones.
Day 18
Good morning, nothing will discourage me on this venture. I am re-reading Jim Britt’s book “Do This Get Rich” and beginning to realize that I am in business and the sponsor portion is only a small part of what I need to do. I really need to have everyone look at the video and become customers first. Once they love the product, then the business opportunity may make sense for them.
I am sending out my next 10 emails today.
I have a REI meeting tonight where I will start promoting the product and speaker Jim Britt. Hopefully we can get some sign-ups to start. We shall see---just keep working it.
One potential client is still promising to sign up – he was filmed last night giving a testimonial to place on the REI site – singing the praises of Jim Britt. I am happy that he has decided to be a team member, now to actually get him to take action. I would normally be ready to give up on him, except for the fact that he is a good friend of the person running the REI and he really wants him in his down line.
He seems genuine but still not sure – I will keep following up to see where this goes.
The owners wife was there last night as well and she is encouraged about the potential of the business. I truly hope between the two of them they make the effort. I will keep coaching them to make sure they get well on their way.
At the meeting there was another person trying to sell the same products (and from my down line) inside my friends meeting. He was not too pleased and made note not to invite her again.
She was engaging people one on one all throughout the evening. I still wonder how far she would get doing this as there is no relationship established and she was not listening to others, just spouting her own business. I would think that forming a relationship, allowing others to talk about themselves, listening with intention would be a better approach. Unfortunately for her, her materials were sloppily presented, photocopied on an angle, her name was written in with a few cross outs where she made a mistake.
Once again I have an opinion about being sloppy with your presentation materials. I do not think it offers the professionalism that you need to convince others to buy from you. And what habits would she be teaching those that want to join her down line? It shows that she does not believe in her own wealth at this point in time. A few business skills need to be imparted.
When I got home I read my emails – wondering who would be responding to my emails I have been sending. Today I only had a couple. 2 stating they were impressed with my weight loss and congratulations. The other was a complete surprise. It was from someone that wanted to know the cost of the product as they were interested in being a customer.
I am sending out my next 10 emails today.
I have a REI meeting tonight where I will start promoting the product and speaker Jim Britt. Hopefully we can get some sign-ups to start. We shall see---just keep working it.
One potential client is still promising to sign up – he was filmed last night giving a testimonial to place on the REI site – singing the praises of Jim Britt. I am happy that he has decided to be a team member, now to actually get him to take action. I would normally be ready to give up on him, except for the fact that he is a good friend of the person running the REI and he really wants him in his down line.
He seems genuine but still not sure – I will keep following up to see where this goes.
The owners wife was there last night as well and she is encouraged about the potential of the business. I truly hope between the two of them they make the effort. I will keep coaching them to make sure they get well on their way.
At the meeting there was another person trying to sell the same products (and from my down line) inside my friends meeting. He was not too pleased and made note not to invite her again.
She was engaging people one on one all throughout the evening. I still wonder how far she would get doing this as there is no relationship established and she was not listening to others, just spouting her own business. I would think that forming a relationship, allowing others to talk about themselves, listening with intention would be a better approach. Unfortunately for her, her materials were sloppily presented, photocopied on an angle, her name was written in with a few cross outs where she made a mistake.
Once again I have an opinion about being sloppy with your presentation materials. I do not think it offers the professionalism that you need to convince others to buy from you. And what habits would she be teaching those that want to join her down line? It shows that she does not believe in her own wealth at this point in time. A few business skills need to be imparted.
When I got home I read my emails – wondering who would be responding to my emails I have been sending. Today I only had a couple. 2 stating they were impressed with my weight loss and congratulations. The other was a complete surprise. It was from someone that wanted to know the cost of the product as they were interested in being a customer.
Day 17
Wow up early again today with no time to spare. Off to work at 6:30 am to teach a practicing presentation skills course (4 hours plus). I did not have time to send out my emails this morning but I did send them early evening. I want to make sure I do not skip a day.
I am now into my membership lists but only picking the names of those that actually know me. I do not want to be put on a spam list for those that do not. My goal is to be introduced to those folks at a future meeting. Once introduced, I do not mind mailing them information.
Am getting 1 to 2 responses per day that I can add to my interested list. The follow up will take place in the evening time frame.
I managed to enter 30 or so more contacts into my database this evening so I am prepared to send another 10 emails today.
I am now into my membership lists but only picking the names of those that actually know me. I do not want to be put on a spam list for those that do not. My goal is to be introduced to those folks at a future meeting. Once introduced, I do not mind mailing them information.
Am getting 1 to 2 responses per day that I can add to my interested list. The follow up will take place in the evening time frame.
I managed to enter 30 or so more contacts into my database this evening so I am prepared to send another 10 emails today.
Day 16
Up early to get to a conference but still sent my 10 emails today. It is great being organized ahead of time so that all I need to do is put the names into the email and off they go. I will be at an Adobe Conference all day today so hope to collect some business cards and add them to my email list for tomorrow. I think I will take some time and write that ad for Craig’s list during the breaks (or socialize and meet more people).
I met some really wonderful people today in the eLearning space. It was really good to connect to others around the country. We had a lot in common and probably will continue the relationship beyond the conference walls. Will follow up with everyone tomorrow (they are all still at the conference for a few more days)
I met some really wonderful people today in the eLearning space. It was really good to connect to others around the country. We had a lot in common and probably will continue the relationship beyond the conference walls. Will follow up with everyone tomorrow (they are all still at the conference for a few more days)
Day 15
I got up early even though it is Sunday, can’t stop thinking about ways to market this product and also to think about the best people to sponsor and add to my leadership team. I want to make sure this is treated like a business so regular sales meetings will be essential.
I am wondering if I could hire sales people on commission to get the product into appointment based locations (Chiros, Spas, Hairdressers, Nip & Tuck locations, acupuncturists, naturopaths and so on). I am looking at hiring on that basis but not sure how it would work, I am thinking that I will pay upon first sale and get that person set up at the minimal price as part of my management responsibilities – perhaps upgrade them when the sales start to come in more rapidly. I still have to think about it.
I have now sent my 10 emails to more friends. I got 1 response from yesterday’s emailing with “I am intrigued and will talk to my doctor about how I can also improve my health”. This may turn out to be a customer and perhaps they will also lose some weight as well.
I am nearly out of names off the top of my head for my email campaign. Now is the time to pull out the membership directories and add those names to my list. I am going to start looking at some networking clubs that I can attend and gather business cards. Hopefully I can find several in the local area. I am also debating about rejoining the eWomen network so I can attend meetings and gain more customers. Just a thought. I am trying to minimize cost; however, finding the best places to work it is optimal no matter what the cost.
I will be ordering face cream for the December 3 event and printing up application forms for auto ship at that time. I want to be able to work my hairdresser’s mailing list to gain regular customers for her. It is good to have great people working the business.
Now to work up a sales person wanted ad for Craig’s list. I also will twitter, linked in, facebook and ezine article push. I think picking on one thing new each week or two is plenty to start building the momentum. If I overwhelm myself with too much to do, I will likely want to throw in the towel. I know from experience, you have to pace yourself and do a few things well before adding more. In this business, burnout is a possibility and I want to make sure the people I work with do not face the same thing.
OK – on for the fun part of my day – finishing up on a presentation project for my day job and going on a bike ride for 50 miles with my husband. Gotta keep sane and gotta keep healthy!
The concert was incredible and we talked to two other people at our table and got to know them. It was Jean-Luc Ponti playing his violin, wow what incredible talent for his whole band!
I am wondering if I could hire sales people on commission to get the product into appointment based locations (Chiros, Spas, Hairdressers, Nip & Tuck locations, acupuncturists, naturopaths and so on). I am looking at hiring on that basis but not sure how it would work, I am thinking that I will pay upon first sale and get that person set up at the minimal price as part of my management responsibilities – perhaps upgrade them when the sales start to come in more rapidly. I still have to think about it.
I have now sent my 10 emails to more friends. I got 1 response from yesterday’s emailing with “I am intrigued and will talk to my doctor about how I can also improve my health”. This may turn out to be a customer and perhaps they will also lose some weight as well.
I am nearly out of names off the top of my head for my email campaign. Now is the time to pull out the membership directories and add those names to my list. I am going to start looking at some networking clubs that I can attend and gather business cards. Hopefully I can find several in the local area. I am also debating about rejoining the eWomen network so I can attend meetings and gain more customers. Just a thought. I am trying to minimize cost; however, finding the best places to work it is optimal no matter what the cost.
I will be ordering face cream for the December 3 event and printing up application forms for auto ship at that time. I want to be able to work my hairdresser’s mailing list to gain regular customers for her. It is good to have great people working the business.
Now to work up a sales person wanted ad for Craig’s list. I also will twitter, linked in, facebook and ezine article push. I think picking on one thing new each week or two is plenty to start building the momentum. If I overwhelm myself with too much to do, I will likely want to throw in the towel. I know from experience, you have to pace yourself and do a few things well before adding more. In this business, burnout is a possibility and I want to make sure the people I work with do not face the same thing.
OK – on for the fun part of my day – finishing up on a presentation project for my day job and going on a bike ride for 50 miles with my husband. Gotta keep sane and gotta keep healthy!
The concert was incredible and we talked to two other people at our table and got to know them. It was Jean-Luc Ponti playing his violin, wow what incredible talent for his whole band!
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